Rainwater harvesting can be achieved by reusing discarded plastic bottles and jugs in a system created by a Colombian architect and his children. For years, the Eko-muro H20 concept has seen wide adoption across many locations in several South American countries, providing access to a resource that is often scarce in rural and peri-urban areas.
The design is essentially a vertical wall formed by interconnected reused PET containers that hold about 2.5 to 3 liters each, though the capacity can be adjusted. This wall-like water tank occupies minimal space and can supply water for a home or a small community, depending on the scale of the ekomuro installation.
The project has earned numerous awards and recognitions, including a finalist position in the Science in Action awards presented by Scientific American. By 2012, similar Wall-type cisterns existed in the market, but many were costly fiberglass structures with limited availability in local shops. The Eko-muro system offers a similar function in a more ecological and low-cost package, made from widely available discarded plastic containers.
The Ekomuro system operates in an environmentally friendly way with simple, practical details. The core material is the ubiquitous PET bottle, repurposed rather than discarded, turning waste into a functional water storage solution.
Community involvement is a key driver of the system’s success. In isolated towns and villages across Colombia and other Latin American countries, bottle collection campaigns are organized through cooperatives, schools, and local events. The caps are punctured to connect different containers, a process carried out collectively to boost production capacity. This collaborative approach helps the walls to grow and function more effectively.
The overall process is straightforward: rainfall fills the bottom row of bottles first, and the water then fills the bottles above in sequence. Each section is designed so that water overflows once its segment is full, creating a simple, gravity-fed distribution network that requires no complex pumps.
With a filtration step, households can obtain drinking water. Researchers and practitioners note that in various parts of Colombia, safe drinking water can be scarce. The project founder, Ricardo Alba, along with his children, Ricardo and Jessica, describe how easy and inexpensive it is to convert a plastic bottle rainwater collector into a practical home solution.
In addition to storing rainwater, the second generation Ekomuro models also address wastewater recycling, enabling further reuse after appropriate treatment. This expands the system’s utility for different needs, from household use to garden irrigation and other non-potable applications.
Further information about the Ekomuro concept and related projects can be found through project summaries and community reports, which discuss implementation in local schools, cooperatives, and community centers. Marked citations from field reporters and participants provide on-the-ground validation of the system’s impact and adoption. [Citation: Community project reports and field studies provide independent validation of Ekomuro’s benefits.]
As a practical example, an installation in a school in Bogotá demonstrated how a simple, low-cost approach can yield reliable water storage for daily needs. The model’s portability and ease of assembly also make it suitable for use in remote or underserved regions where traditional water infrastructure is limited. The innovation lies not only in the materials used but in the social model that engages residents in building and maintaining the system, fostering local ownership and sustainability. [Citation: Field notes from educators and local organizers.]
For readers seeking more information about the project, the broader concept of plastic bottle rainwater collection continues to inspire similar initiatives across the region. The Ekomuro approach shows how reuse and community collaboration can transform waste into essential resources, supporting resilience in communities facing water scarcity. [Citation: Regional case studies and sustainability reports.]
In summary, the Ekomuro H20 concept demonstrates a scalable, eco-friendly method for harvesting and storing rainwater in communities where access to clean water is limited. By leveraging discarded plastic containers and a cooperative development model, it provides a practical, low-cost solution with lasting social and environmental benefits. [Citation: Project reviews and independent assessments.]
Note: This article consolidates information from multiple field reports and project summaries to present a cohesive overview of the Ekomuro H20 system and its impact on water access in Latin America. [Citation: Field summaries and sustainability assessments.]